Feb. 9

Feb. 10

Steamboat Springs  What’s considered a viral video in Steamboat Springs? Well, there’s at least one locally made video making its way around social media networks that’s garnered almost 5,000 views in 10 days.

And the organizers of this year’s 100th Winter Carnival flash mob are hoping the community gets on board with the video’s festive and fun content.

Local residents Millie Flanigan and Marnie Smith, mothers of Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club athletes, wanted to organize some kind of activity to celebrate the 100th Winter Carnival that involved the community.

Smith said she thinks they were dancing at the time they came up with idea to have a communitywide flash mob at various Winter Carnival events.

“We thought it’d be fun, and it’d be a great community event and a great way to show how proud we are of the carnival and how amazing our town is,” Smith said.

So she and Flanigan went to Elevation Dance Studio owner Renee Fleischer to see whether they could get a choreographer involved.

“I didn’t even think twice. I 100 percent was in,” Fleischer said. “It definitely seemed like it’s taken on a life of its own.”

The video is a 7 minute, 11 second tutorial on the simple routine — at least Fleischer said it would be simple with lots and lots of practice. She and her trusty backup dancers break down each step, count by count, and then runs through the entire dance along to the peppy and family-friendly “Good Time” by Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen.

Whenever the catchy song plays at any Winter Carnival event, the organizers are envisioning crowds of people breaking into dance in the middle of the snowy streets.

Smith said there are three set events where the flash mob is scheduled to happen:

The first is Feb. 8 during the Sorel Soiree, which begins at 7 p.m. at Howelsen Hill. However, only people with tickets to the event will be allowed to participate in that flash mob. The Sorel Soiree is sold out. The second flash mob event will be at about 6:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at Howelsen Hill during the Night Extravaganza. And Smith said that potential dancers should gather at Lyon Drug Store during the parade, which starts at about 11:30 a.m. Feb. 10.

Winter Carnival buttons are required to participate.

“It’s super simple,” Fleischer said. “It consists of a grapevine to the left and to the right, adding a turn each way, throwing your hands up and working it out a bit with your hips.”

“It’s super fun, and I didn’t even think of it as a job. I was honored to be asked, and I am excited the community is getting so involved in it.”

To help get local dancers and wannabe dancers in the festive spirit, Fleischer will be offering a free class from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday on the Steamboat Stage in Gondola Square for anyone interested in a quick lesson on the flash mob steps.

So far, Fleischer said word seems to be getting around.

She said she went to volunteer at Strawberry Park Elementary School, and instead of running through flash cards with the students, she was asked to teach the routine.

“I love that everyone can find common ground with it,” she said.

“Just to have the community doing something together — all ages, all demographics and genders — and surprising the tourists and showing our community support for the Winter Sports Club.”